1. HYDROCHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env & Eco)

Context: In a promising environmental development, a new study has reported the first significant decrease in atmospheric concentrations of potent ozone-depleting substances (ODS) known as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)

• About: HCFC-141b is one of the most powerful ozone-depleting chemicals after Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
• Usage: It is mainly used as a blowing agent in the foam manufacturing industries.
• Dependence on Imports: HCFC-141b is not produced domestically, and all requirements were met through imports.
• Non-Ozone Depleting Technologies: India is one of the few countries pioneering the use of non-Ozone Depleting technologies and has a low Global Warming Potential (GWP).
• Significant Phase-Out Achievement: The complete phase-out of HCFC-141b from the foam sector in India is among the first at this scale in Article 5 parties (developing countries) under the Montreal Protocol.

oDue to their ozone-depleting and greenhouse properties, HCFCs are being phased out globally under international agreements like the Montreal Protocol and its subsequent amendments.

• Montreal Protocol: The Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. It includes CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs etc. Signed in 1987, it came into effect in 1989.

Ozone Depletion

• About: Some compounds release chlorine or bromine when they are exposed to intense UV light in the stratosphere. 
• When chlorine and bromine atoms come into contact with ozone in the stratosphere, they destroy ozone molecules.
• Ozone-Depleting Substances: ODS that release chlorine include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform. 

oODS that release bromine include halons and methyl bromide. 

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2. GROUP OF SEVEN (Syllabus GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Group of Seven nations have agreed on a loan syndicate based on the size of their economies to provide Ukraine with about $50 billion of fresh aid starting to flow by the end of the year.

Group of Seven (G7) Countries

• About: It is an intergovernmental organization. The bloc meets annually to discuss issues of common interest like global economic governance, international security and energy policy.
• Formation: 1975.
• G7 countries: UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US.

oIndia is not a part of G7.

• Membership: Apart from the 7 member countries, the European Union (EU) has also participated fully in the G7 since 1981 as a “non-enumerated” member.
• Presidency: It rotates annually among the member countries, with each country hosting the summit and setting the agenda for the year.
• Meetings: The G7 holds annual meetings. 
• Informal nature: The G7 does not have a formal charter or secretariat. Decisions are made through consensus, and there is no formal voting system or legal obligations.

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3. PARDONING POWER OF THE PRESIDENT (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The President of India has rejected the mercy petition of Pakistani national Mohammed Arif, who was sentenced to death for the 2000 terrorist attack at the Red Fort that resulted in the deaths of three people, including two Army jawans.

Pardoning Power of the President

• Article 72: It grants the President the power to grant pardons, suspend, remit, or commute sentences, providing additional protection against potential miscarriage of justice.

oThe President is empowered to grant pardons to individuals convicted of offences against Union Law.

oThe President can pardon those convicted and sentenced by a court martial (military court).

oThe President has the authority to pardon or commute sentences of death.

oUnder Article 161, the Governor in India too has pardoning powers.

• Types:

oPardon: It removes both the sentence and the conviction and completely absolves the convict from all sentences, punishments, and disqualifications.

oCommutation: It denotes the substitution of one form of punishment for a lighter form. For example, a death sentence may be commuted to rigorous imprisonment, which in turn may be commuted to simple imprisonment.

oRemission: It implies reducing the period of the sentence without changing its character. For example, a sentence of rigorous imprisonment for two years may be remitted to rigorous imprisonment for one year.

oRespite: It denotes awarding a lesser sentence in place of one originally awarded due to some special fact, such as the physical disability of a convict or the pregnancy of a woman offender.

oReprieve: It implies a stay of the execution of a sentence (especially that of death) for a temporary period. Its purpose is to enable the convict to have time to seek pardon or commutation from the President.

Standard Do Courts Apply in Death Sentence Cases

• Supreme Court Ruling: In 1980, the SC upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty in the case of Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab but established significant guidelines.
• Judicial Temperament: The court emphasized that judges should not be bloodthirsty and must exercise great restraint when considering the death penalty.
• "Rarest of Rare" Doctrine: The death penalty should only be awarded in the "rarest of rare" cases where the alternative option is unquestionably foreclosed, and all mitigating circumstances have been thoroughly considered.
• Law Commission Report 2015: It recommended the absolute abolition of the death penalty for all crimes except for terrorism-related offenses and waging war.

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4. RIFT VALLEY FEVER (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and tech)

Context: A recent study published in the BMJ Global Health journal has revealed that the geographical range of Rift Valley fever disease clusters is expanding across eastern Africa.

Rift Valley Fever Disease

• About: It is a viral zoonosis that primarily affects animals but also has the capacity to infect humans.
• Transmitted by: Mosquito
• Caused by: Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV)
• Infection: In humans, the disease ranges from a mild flu-like illness to severe haemorrhagic fever that can be lethal. 

oWhen livestock are infected the disease can cause significant economic losses due to high mortality rates in young animals and waves of abortions in pregnant females.

• First identified in: 1931 in Kenya.
• First reported cases: Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
• Treatment and vaccines: As most human cases of RVF are relatively mild and of short duration, no specific treatment is required for these patients. For the more severe cases, the predominant treatment is general supportive therapy.

Recent Findings: 

• A BMJ Global Health study challenges previous perceptions of RVF, suggesting it primarily occurs in small clusters rather than large outbreaks, and its association with El Niño is less pronounced than previously thought.
• The study analyzed factors like altitude, soil type, rainfall, temperature, vegetation index (NDVI), livestock systems, land-use changes, and climatic variations influencing RVF occurrence.

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5. BLUE CARBON (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Blue Carbon is gaining attention globally due to its crucial role in carbon sequestration and coastal ecosystem health, prompting increased conservation efforts worldwide.

Blue Carbon

• About: It refers to carbon captured by ocean and coastal ecosystems worldwide.
• Storage in Ecosystem: Mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrass meadows contain substantial carbon stores from vegetation and natural processes over centuries.
• Comparing with Terrestrial Forests: Coastal ecosystems often sequester and store more carbon per unit area compared to terrestrial forests.
• Role in Mitigation: These vegetated coastal ecosystems act as significant carbon sinks, contributing to the mitigation of climate change.
• Vulnerability: Degradation of coastal ecosystems can compromise their carbon sink capacity, releasing stored carbon and contributing to climate change.
• Importance: Protection and restoration of blue-carbon ecosystems have added benefits for wildlife, water quality, storm surge protection, and local economies.
• Global Policy Initiatives: Countries are developing policies and programs, such as REDD+ and NDCs, to manage natural systems and reduce carbon footprints in support of sustainable development.
• Other types:

oGreen carbon: Carbon stored in the biosphere, taken up from the atmosphere by plants through the process of photosynthesis.

oBlue carbon: Blue carbon refers to the carbon captured by the world's oceans and coastal ecosystems.

oBrown carbon: Brown carbon refers to the brown smoke emitted by the combustion of organic matter.

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6. UPPER YAMUNA RIVER BOARD (UYRB) (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity-Inter-state river dispute)

Context: The Supreme Court has entrusted the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) with addressing Delhi's drinking water crisis, citing a lack of expertise in navigating the complex and sensitive issue of Yamuna water sharing among signatory states to a 20-year-old Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB)

• About: It is a subordinate office under Department of Water Resources, RD & GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
• Board Member: The Board shall consist of Member, Central Water Commission as part time Chairman and one nominee each from the States of Utter Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and National Capital Territory of Delhi.

oThe Board shall have a full time Member-Secretary who does not belong to beneficiary states.

• Review Committee: It comprises the Chief Ministers (or Governors during President's Rule) of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

oThe committee is chaired by the Hon’ble Minister of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India.

oPurpose: To assess the functioning of the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB).

• Functions:

oAllocation of Flows: The Board's primary function is to regulate the allocation of available water flows among the beneficiary States and monitor the return flows.

oWater Quality Management: It monitors, conserves, and enhances the quality of both surface and groundwater within the basin.

oProject Monitoring: The Board reviews and monitors the progress of all projects, including those up to and including the Okhla barrage, to ensure they meet defined objectives.

oTelemetry System Implementation: To enhance monitoring capabilities, the Board has initiated the installation of a telemetry system. This system will enable real-time observation and dissemination of flow data across 11 locations within the basin.

oMinimum Flow Regulations: In line with ecological considerations and regulatory mandates, the Board ensures that a minimum flow, currently set at 10 cumec downstream of Hathnikund Barrage and Okhla Headworks, is maintained throughout the year.

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7. SECTION 21 OF CPA 2019 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of `3 lakh on education institute, an edtech platform, for publishing “false and misleading” advertisements claiming 144 selections in the Reserve Bank of India Grade B exam in 2023.

oThe CCPA issued these directions to the company under the Section 21 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Section 21 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019

• Issuance of Directions: The Central Authority can issue directions to cease or modify any false or misleading advertisement that prejudices consumer interests or contravenes consumer rights.
• Prohibition on Endorsers: It may prohibit an endorser from endorsing any product or service for up to one year for a first contravention of misleading advertising. Subsequent contraventions may result in a prohibition period of up to three years.
• Imposition of Penalties: The Central Authority has the power to impose a penalty up to ten lakh rupees on manufacturers or endorsers for false or misleading advertisements. For subsequent violations, the penalty may extend to fifty lakh rupees.
• Penalty for Publication of Misleading Advertisements: Individuals involved in publishing misleading advertisements can be penalized by the Central Authority, with penalties extending up to ten lakh rupees.

oNo penalty applies if it can be proven that the advertisement was published in the regular course of business, except if the publisher had prior knowledge of a Central Authority order to withdraw or modify the advertisement.

• Right to Hearing: Before issuing any order under this section, the Central Authority ensures that the affected party is given an opportunity to present their case and be heard.

Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)

• About: CCPA is a regulatory body established in 2020 based on the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
• Establishment: In 2020
• Control by: Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
• Composition: Chief Commissioner as head, and only two other commissioners as members.
• Objective: To promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers as a class.

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8. PRADHAN MANTRI KAUSHAL VIKAS YOJANA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Schemes)

Context: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is looking to train around 150,000 women under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), with a third of them acquiring new-age skills, in the first 100 days of the new government.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)

• About: PMKVY is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
• Launch: 15th July, 2015 
• Implemented by: National Skill Development Corporation.
• Funding: Centre and the State level with a 50:50 allocation of funds and targets with more enhanced involvement of District Skill Committees (DSC).
• Objective: To enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood.
• Components: Short Term Training, Special Projects, Recognition of Prior Learning, Kaushal & Rozgar Mela, etc.
• PMKVY 1.0: To promote skill development by offering free short-term training and monetary rewards for youth achieving skill certification.
• PMKVY 2.0: PMKVY 2016-20 expanded its reach across sectors and geographies, aligning closely with national missions like Make in India, Digital India, and Swachh Bharat.
• PMKVY 3.0: Launched in 717 districts across 28 States and eight Union Territories, PMKVY 3.0 aligns with the vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.

oImplements a decentralized structure with enhanced roles for States/UTs and Districts, facilitated by District Skill Committees (DSCs) under State Skill Development Missions (SSDMs).

• PMKVY 4.0: Local opportunities in the farm and non-farm sectors, as well as skilling requirements of the local industry within each district.

oIt will also seek to address the requirements of industry from emerging sectors such as drones, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and mechatronics.

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9. GENERAL ANTI-AVOIDANCE RULE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The Telangana High Court has ruled against a taxpayer against whom the revenue department had invoked General Anti-avoidance Rule (GAAR).

 General Anti-avoidance Rule (GAAR)

• About: GAAR is an anti-tax avoidance law in India designed to prevent tax evasion and minimize revenue losses.
• Effective from: 1st April 2017, GAAR operates within the framework of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
• Scope: The provisions of GAAR target aggressive tax planning strategies, particularly transactions aimed at circumventing tax liabilities.

oIt applies to transactions that, while legally permissible, result in significant tax reduction.

• Objectives: To curb revenue losses caused by companies engaging in aggressive tax avoidance practices.

oIt seeks to ensure that tax incentives provided by law are used in line with their intended purpose and economic consequences.

• Legal Distinctions: 

oTax mitigation, where taxpayers use legal means to reduce tax liability, remains permissible under the Income Tax Act, unaffected by GAAR.

oTax evasion, however, constitutes illegal non-payment of taxes and is distinct from tax avoidance targeted by GAAR.

• Impact and Enforcement: GAAR broadens the scope of tax scrutiny to include all transactions with significant tax implications, regardless of their legality.

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10. NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Education)

Context: The Supreme Court is scheduled to address three petitions regarding the controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2024 medical entrance test.

National Testing Agency

• About: It is a premier, specialist, autonomous, and self-sustained testing organization.
• Aim: To conduct entrance examinations for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions.
• Establishment: in 2017, as a Society registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act, of 1860.
• Objectives:

oConduct efficient, transparent, and internationally standardized tests to assess candidate competency for admission and recruitment purposes.

oUndertake research on educational, professional, and testing systems to identify knowledge gaps and bridge them.

oIdentify experts and institutions for setting examination questions.

oProduce and disseminate information and research on education and professional development standards.

• Functions: 

oCreate a question bank for all subjects using modern techniques.

oEstablish a strong R&D culture and a pool of experts in different aspects of testing.

oAssist colleges and universities in testing, and provide training and advisory services within India.

oUndertake any other examinations entrusted by the Ministries/Departments of Government of India/State Governments.

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